This is the lot in Hunter’s Point, Queens, which produced the Yellow-breasted Chat. I think it’s an old railhead, and not in danger of immediate development, although the far end of it was turned into a parklet for one of the new high rise apartment buildings which have finally made it across the river from Manhattan.




The lot may harbor the occasional migrant, but they’d better be alert. It also serves as hunting ground for a pair of Kestrels I’ve seen nesting in the eaves of the church school across the way. They’ve raised successful broods for the last two years, so they’re genuinely urbanized, but they still have use for a vacant lot in the neighborhood.




Other churches overlook other lots...